Using an iPhone & iPad in Thailand

True Offer up to 50% Discount on iPhones in Thailand

Posted on February 17, 2012

True Move have just made a bold, if not shocking announcement that they are cutting the prices of their iPhones starting from an amazing 50%. There are of course strings attached, but if you are in for the long term and don't mind paying up front for your data package, then this special offer could be very attractive.

The new prices are as follows:

iPhone 4 (8GB) 9,250 Baht
iPhone 4S (16GB) 13,500 Baht
iPhone 4S (32 GB) 17,200 Baht
iPhone 4S (64GB) 21,200 Baht

Here are the strings which come attached:

The offer is from 21 February until 12 April 2012
You must apply for the XL data package for 18 months
You must pay for 7 months upfront
You must be a customer of True Online or True Visions for more than 12 months

The XL Package is 899 Baht per month which gives you 500 minutes of talk time, 300 free text messages, 50 MMS messages and unlimited 3G+ and WiFi.

Filed under: iPhone4S 4 Comments

14 Language Pocket Translator Worth $99 Free Today!

Posted on February 15, 2012

CEMA Interpreter can freely translate your language into 14 different languages. Suitable for business people who travel frequently in many countries. It is also a reliable personal pronunciation translator.

The CEMA Interpreter is an iPhone app that contains the most commonly used 1,000 phrases used by travellers. You can buy individual apps at $9.99 for each of 14 languages, however this version has all target languages. These are: Chinese, English, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Italy, Portugal, Holland, Turkey, Arabia and Thai. The normal price is $99 but for a limited time it is free! So, be quick. It has just about every category and major phrase that you would need. However, I have two minor grumbles on this app. There is no transliteration of the Thai and on longer phrases the speaker often reads too fast. There are also a couple of places where the Thai text doesn't match what is being read. Hopefuly they will correct those mistakes on the next update. But, like I said, it is free at the moment and it doesn't hurt to download. Just don't buy it when it goes back up to $99!

Download CEMA Interpreter from iTunes for free today - Normal price is $99 >>>

Filed under: Learning Thai No Comments

Microphone for the iPhone

Posted on February 13, 2012

Recently I have been doing podcasts and videos with my students using the iPhone. This has the advantage over other devices as it is more portable and that you can not only do the editing on the device, but also upload it straight away. However, even though the built-in microphone of the iPhone is very good, it does pick up a lot of ambient sound. As I was shooting inside the school, it was difficult to find a quiet place. Unfortunately you cannot just use any microphone with the iPhone. When I first started researching, I found that most microphones weren't much bigger than ear-buds and plugged into the headphone socket. Great for podcasts maybe but not so good for shooting video where the subject is further away.

Then I discovered the iRig Mic which was being sold on Amazon.com for $59.99 (presently reduced to $48). I bought this microphone and have liked the results so far. However, don't expect high quality sound. It's not going to give you anything better than the built-in microphone. But, it will cut down a lot on ambient sound. In the video I shot above, the students are using this microphone in the playground. All around them their friends were playing and making a lot of noise. There was also a strong wind and birds singing. As you can hear from the video, none of this is picked up. You can only hear the two students.The microphone is doing exactly what I need it to do. This means I can now video at any time and any where.

One thing I am concerned about is the lead. It is attached. If you have used microphones a lot like me then you will know that these break easily and result in a crackling sound. There is no way you can replace the lead unlike with normal microphones. An alternative is to buy an adaptor for your iPhone which you can then use a normal microphone. This is a cheaper option though of course you also need to buy a microphone if you don't have one already. Also, having adaptors means something else that could go wrong. If you want to buy in Thailand you don't have much of a choice. I have seen this iRig Mic selling for 2,790 Baht at places like .Life and Sanook Gadget shops. At the latter shop they also had a Tascam iXZ which is an adaptor where you can plug in normal microphones. This was 1,890 Baht. They both have branches in Central World.

If you have any practical experience about buying microphones for the iPhone in Thailand then please post in the comments.

Filed under: Accessories No Comments

Thai Baht Exchange Rates & Bank Finder

Posted on February 10, 2012

A very useful real-time and real-world Thai Baht exchange rate display application. It shows up-to-date buying and selling rates of 34 foreign currencies with Thai Baht from 8 Thai major banks.

My favourite foreign exchange rate app for the iPhone is definitely XE Currency. I use this one often. However, if you are based in Thailand, or even on holiday here, then you might like to check out Thai Baht Exchange. This is because there is no fixed rate for your money. If you shop around you might get more money for your dollar. Maybe save up to 10% which s considerable when exchanging a lot of money. This is where this iPhone app becomes useful. You can check the rates of 34 foreign currencies at eight major banks in Thailand. On the screenshot on the left you can see a list of currencies at Bangkok Bank. On the right, you can see that dollars have been chosen and the different rates at all the banks are listed.

There is also a currency converter calculator where you can convert Thai Baht to/from different currencies. An additional feature is the bank finder. The app looks at your present location and then gives you a list of the nearest banks. Click through to either see full address and telephone number or a map of the location. Also included are exchange booths.

Download Thai Baht Exchange for free from iTunes >>>

Filed under: Thailand No Comments

Free Thai Flash cards for iPhone and iPad

Posted on February 7, 2012

Thai Flash helps you to learn the Thai alphabet. Each character is displayed as a card ( flash card ). Create your own combination of cards and settings, and swipe left or right to move backwards and forwards in the deck.

This new app called "Thai Flash" is probably all you need for learning the Thai alphabet. It has all of the consonants, vowels and numbers too. As you can see, the options are numerous. On this setting, you will see all of the cards by swiping to the left or right. Click on the sound icon in the lower left and you will hear a native speaker saying the name of this character. Alternatively, turn on the setting "Speak on card change" to hear the name automatically as you flip through the cards. You can also just concentrate on different groups of consonants or just the vowels or numbers. Turn off "Show character" and you will only hear the name and not see the character. You just then tap on the screen to see the character. Considering that this app is presently free, there is no reason why you shouldn't download it now. It works on both iPhone and iPod.

Download Thai Flash for free on iTunes >>>>

Filed under: Learning Thai 1 Comment

Movie Showtimes for Bangkok Cinemas

Posted on February 2, 2012

This free app called "Thai Showtimes" helps you to check the times of movies in Thailand for both SF and Major cinema chains. Unlike the dedicated apps for SF and Major you don't get any pictures or synopsis of the movie. What you do get is a fast and simple app that lets you find out the showtimes of any movies. There is also a button to call the cinema if you want to reserve a seat.

Download for free from iTunes >>>

Filed under: Thailand No Comments

Reviews of iPhone Apps

AR Drone Parrot

การใช้ไอโฟนในประเทศไทย

On this blog I will be sharing with you tips and methods of using an iPhone and iPad in Thailand. I am not pretending to be an expert, but I hope that from my personal experience of using an iPhone for my work and pleasure you might gain some knowledge. As well as reviewing apps that I use, I will also post about accessories and also the latest news from around the world.

- Richard Barrow

Twitter: @RichardBarrow
Archives: @TwitterArchives
Contact: @Paknamweb.com

Useful Posts & Websites

* Open a US iTunes Account
* Tips for Using an iPhone in Thailand

Amitiae is an excellent website for people interested in Apple, Mac, IT, iOs, Asia and Everywhere else

Over at Women Learning Thai, you will also find some useful blogs about using an iPhone in Thailand.

Using an iPhone & iPad in Thailand Tips, App Reviews and News for the iPhone and iPad by Richard Barrow